La Luz de Jesus Presents: GERMS’ “FaSho” — Music: “Every Six Seconds” by The Surf Monks
La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 4633 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood CA 90027 (inside WACKO).
GERMS’ most recent body of work is titled “Fasho,” a term which reaffirms an unspoken agreement between the artist and the viewers, to look at the familiar as filtered through the warped mind of GERMS.
This is GERMS’ first exhibition at La Luz de Jesus Gallery.
The artist will be in attendance.
MUSIC: The Surf Monks “Every Six Seconds.”
Written, performed and produced by A.J. Marik, Copyright 2012, A.J. Marik/Right Brain Music (BMI). Al rights reserved.
Photography: Gil Ortiz.
Slideshow produced by Tim K, www.freshwidow.com.
All artwork Copyright 2012, Jaime GERMS Zacarias. All rights reserved.
Source: youtube.com
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Jaime Zacarias aka GERMS “Fasho” @ Luz De Jesus Gallery
June 1 - July 1, 2012
Opening Reception: Friday, June 1st; 8-11 PM
South Los Angeles native Jaime Zacarias aka GERMS is seemingly infected with an innate ability to channel the spirits of our surrealist predecessors, slapping our eyeballs with his grotesque yet amusing iconography and ameoba like characters while simultaneously referencing post-Chicano culture and imagery. He is known for cleverly stylized Luchador masks given life by their protruding tentacles, surrounded by floating amoebas that playfully flirt with their viewers’ imaginations.
Says GERMS, “I find myself mesmerized by the seemingly infinite details and borderline infectious behaviors of each character I create, while striving to transform and challenge the traditional interpretations of the icons we all know so well.” The viewer is drawn into a complex layering of cultural references; comfortable and familiar, often times playful and childlike imagery, which may, however, mask the dark and sinister - but which is imbued with an innocent sense of “anything is possible” in the World of GERMS.
GERMS most recent body of work is titled “Fasho,” a term which affirms an unspoken agreement between the artist and the viewers of his work to look at the familiar as filtered through the mind of GERMS and see something never before seen.”Fasho”, also meaning “for sure” is a play on words –giving the artist total freedom to use the space as a playground.
Source: laluzdejesus.com
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MEX/LA: Mexican Modernism(s) in Los Angeles 1930-1985
Curated by Rubén Ortiz-Torres in association with Jesse Lerner, the exhibition MEX/L.A.: “Mexican” Modernism(s) in Los Angeles, 1930-1985, focuses on the construction of different notions of “Mexicanidad” within modernist and contemporary art in Los Angeles. The period from 1945 to 1985 is attributed as the time when Los Angeles consolidated itself as an important cultural center. However, this time span excludes the controversial and important presence of the Mexican muralists and the production of other artists such as Philip Guston and Jackson Pollock who responded to their ideas and later influenced other artists in New York and throughout the United States.
CAM:
If you were not able to make it out to this Pacific Standard Time event here is a great video narrated by assistant curator Selene Preciado summarizing the theme of the exhibition of MEX/LA at MOLAA.
MEX/LA: Mexican Modernism(s) in Los Angeles 1930-1985 and “Art Along The Hyphen” The Mexican-American Generation were my two favorite exhibitions of the Pacific Standard Time of events. I enjoyed this exhibit, I got to see how Mexican and Mexican-Americans influenced Los Angeles in Flim, food and artworld. This exhibition was also the first time Chicano artist have been exhibited inside the confinements of Museum Of Latin American Art.
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Colorlines.com - Latino Street Artist Sparks Conversation About Labor in Beverly Hills
by Jorge Rivas
The scenes are familiar to Angelenos driving through Beverly Hills. Latina domestic workers of every age group waiting at bus stops and men attending gardens. Artist Ramiro Gomez says he wants people to stop and think about the labor force that takes care of the things we value the most: our families and our homes.
The 25-year-old artist who makes a living as a male nanny* by day has been placing hand-painted cardboard cut outs of workers in and around Beverly Hills. He’s left cardboard figures of housekeepers waiting at bus stops, men watering gardens, trimming hedges and even cut outs of a man with a leaf blower.
“I like that when people see my cardboard cut outs of real humans they stop and say ‘what is that’ and realize that what their seeing is a cardboard version of a housekeeper or gardener that they’ve just been driving past,” Gomez told Colorlines.com.
Gomez paints on cardboard he sources from a Best Buy and Target store dumpster at the edge of West Hollywood. He grew up about 65-miles east in a county called San Bernardino. He attended community college before transferring to the art school CalArts but says he was dissatisfied with his program and left before graduating.
The mostly female and immigrant domestic workforce in Los Angeles is particularly vulnerable due to the isolated nature of the industry, where women labor behind closed doors and out of the public eye.
“Often these sectors of the labor force become invisible—we’re used to them attending our gardens, taking care of our kids, cleaning our homes and they almost become invisible,” says Lizette Guerra, archivist and librarian at the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center that began archiving Gomez’s work recently.
Source: colorlines.com
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Yreina Flores Ortiz - “La Chingona” artwork and poem
Today, I will greet the sun as my relative
and give the morning my full attention.
I will say “I love you” into the mirror
and draw my eyeliner extra straight.
I will not call myself fat
because everything in my closet will look good on me.
I will rock my huge Latina hips
like the blessing they are.
Watch out!
I might even wear heels.
Today, I will not hand out one unnecessary apology.
Today, I will be Chingona!
-Yreina Flores Ortiz
CAM:
More info on Yreina Flores Ortiz visit (HERE)
Signed and dated “La Chingona” giclee prints (Here)
Source: aymujershop.wordpress.com
Video - Ramiro Gomez - Cinco de Mayo installation art in Beverly Hills
via: POCHO.com
Ramiro Gomez is an installation artist who makes the invisible visible by inserting cardboard versions of usually-overlooked Mexican laborers into actual settings. Last night he emailed:
Fresh piece I just installed this afternoon on the westbound corner of Mountain Drive and Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills. If you’re driving around that part of town, stop by and check it out before it’s inevitably taken down.
Like Gomez wanted, POCHO stopped by the intersection the morning of Cinco de Mayo and shot this video. It reminded us of a Folgers Crystals instant coffee commercial: “We’ve secretly replaced your ordinarily-invisible immigrant gardener with a cardboard replica. Let’s see if anyone notices!”
CAM:
This video is a great voyeurs view of Ramiro Gomez’s art installation in Beverly Hills of one of his “cardboard gardeners”. Watching this video my eyes instantly focused on the drivers reactions; very interesting. Curious on what I observed? View it.
I will be interviewing Mr. Gomez very soon, so stay tuned for that.
Ramiro’s archive of “Happy Hills” a series of mixed-media works and documentary photographs of his installations have been added to the UCLA Digital Library. UCLA Chicano Studies Resource Center Library will also feature an exhibition of Gomez’s art in 2012–13.
Here are a couple pictures of Mr. Gomez’s most recet street pieces (HERE) and (HERE)
More artwork by Ramiro Gomez Jr. visit his Happy Hills blog.
Source: pocho.com
Frank Romero - “City and Country” @ Avenue 50 Studio
Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 7:00-10:00 pm
Throughout his 40 year career as an artist, Frank Romero has been a dedicated member of the Los Angeles arts community. As a member of the 1970s Chicano art collective, Los Four, Romero and fellow artists Carlos Almaraz, Beto de la Rocha and Gilbert Lujan, helped to define and promote the new awareness of La Raza through murals, publications and exhibitions. Los Four’s historic 1974 exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art was the country’s first show of Chicano art at a major art institution.
Since then, Romero has successfully balanced a career in both the public and private arenas. He has completed over 15 murals throughout the city, and was a key contributor to the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival with “Going to the Olympics,” a large scale mural which adorns one of Los Angeles’ busiest freeways (Highway 101). He recently restored this mural with a grant by the Amateur Athletic Foundation, as well as working on new murals for SPARC (Ritchie Valens Park in Pacoima) and North East Trees (along the Los Angeles River) and in Silverlake.
Romero has shown extensively in the United States, Europe and Japan. Notable exhibitions include: “Chicanarte” (L.A. Municipal Gallery), “Hispanic Art in the United States” (Corcoran Gallery, Washington D.C. and national tour), “Le Demon des Anges” (Nantes, France; Barcelona, Spain; Lund Sweden and Brussels, Belgium), and “American Kaleidoscope” (National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.). His work is featured in many permanent collections, including the National Museum of Art in Washington D.C., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Carnegie Museum in Oxnard, CA.
Source: avenue50studio.com
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Exhibition runs: Thursday, May 3, 2012 – Friday, June 1, 2012
3156 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Gallery hours: Wednesday to Saturday, from 11am -7pm
Asterisk Gallery is pleased to present Cholas to Picasso: The 3D Artworks of Rio Yanez, a collection of 3D drawings and photography.
As a native San Francisco artist, curator, and photographer, Yañez includes the viewer into the art experience. This show is particularly meaningful as it is Yañez’s first solo exhibition in the neighborhood where he was raised. In Cholas to Picasso: The 3D Artworks of Rio Yañez, three-dimensional works of his ongoing series, The Ramirez Sisters, depicting two siblings and their parallel lives in San Francisco’s Mission District takes on the form of sequential art. Although Yañez negates text, the images of the sisters evokes a strong sense of the how the city shapes the sisters’ individual identities. With his re-contextualization and imaginings of Frida Kahlo and Picasso inspired works, the images mesh into the contemporary fabric Yañez calls home. His photographic works depict the richness and vibrancy of San Francisco. Through Red and Cyan colored lenses, the dynamic simulation of being in these moments of creation is brought to the participant. The textures and scenes of the city enliven the urban landscape. The three-dimensional facet of the works are also kinetic and engaging as they lure the viewer into participating into the city’s infectious and energetic spirit.
About the Artist
Rio Yañez is a curator, photographer, graphic artist, and San Francisco artist. As a curator, he is a frequent collaborator with his father, Rene Yañez, and the two have been developing exhibits together since 2005. He has exhibited in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Tokyo. His reimaginings of Frida Kahlo have included the Ghetto Frida Project, a series of prints, writings, and performance pieces featuring a thugged-out Kahlo. Yañez is also a founding member of The Great Tortilla Conspiracy, the world’s most dangerous tortilla art collective. Most recently, his work is featured alongside Miguel “Bounce” Perez and Susie “Tendaroni” Lundy in current exhibition, The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk at the De Young Museum. Yañez received his BFA in Photography from the California Institute of the Arts. He currently works and resides in San Francisco, California.
Source: rioyanez.com
image : Gilbert “Magu” Lujan - “Our Family Car”
Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) - CRUISIN’ CALIFAS: The Art of Lowriding May 13 - September 30, 2012 Singh Family Gallery
Preview Reception
Saturday, May 12
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
via OMA:
The personalized automobiles known as “Lowriders,” are part of a subculture whose aesthetic tendencies cross over into the world of fine art. Lowrider describes a car that is typically customized with a hydraulic setup to be low to the ground, with an elaborate paint job, striking chrome features and uniquely designed upholstery. But this term reaches beyond cars, and has become a cultural phenomenon and way of life for many people. Today Lowrider culture can be seen not only in cars and motorcycles, but also in sculptures, photography and paintings as a way for people to express their individuality and cultural pride. This exhibition will feature a display of several full-size cars and motorcycles that have been created in the Lowrider style. Accompanying the vehicles will be paintings and sculptures made by the vehicle designers and owners and other prominent artists influenced by Lowrider culture in their artwork. Featured artists include Teen Angel, Mike Pickel, Gilbert “Magu” Lujan, Jae Bueno, David Avalos, Bobby Ruiz, El Moises, D.A. Garcia, Victor Cordero, Eddie “Swoopy” Galindo, Aztek, Howard Gribble, Pedro “Rooster” Rayos, Salvador Gonzalez, Ulises Vasquez, Armando Flores, Estevan Oriol and Eriberto Oriol, among others. This exhibition is guest curated by Carlos C. de Baca and David C. de Baca.
The title of the exhibition, Cruisin’ Califas, refers to Lowrider culture in California and the favorite pastime of the Lowrider – cruising! Califas is a slang term that refers to California amongst the Latino culture with roots that going back to the mythological land of Calafia that inspired the naming of California. Largely associated with the rise of the automobile industry and the post WWII manufacturing boom, Lowriders became a popular way for people, mostly without the means to purchase a brand new car, to express their individuality and cultural pride. Lowrider describes a car that is customized with a hydraulic setup to be low to the ground, with an elaborate paint job that often includes pin striping and lettering, with striking chrome features, and uniquely designed upholstery. Classic cars such as Chevrolet Impalas and Master Deluxes are often associated with this culture, but today, any type of vehicle can be transformed into a Lowrider, from motorcycles to bicycles, SUV’s and tricycles. Reaching farther then cars; this phenomenon has become a way of life for many people, influencing the style of the artists involved in this exhibition.
Featuring a 1950 Chevrolet and artwork from the late Gilbert “Magu” Lujan, the 1938 Chevy Master Delux, the pin-striping and airbrush artwork of Victor Cordero, the El Revolucionario motorcycle of Rick Alvarez, the hubcap sculptures of David Avalos, pen and ink drawings from Eddie Galindo, a motorcycle and paintings by Salvador Gonzalez, the art of Teen Angel, model cars, memorabilia, cruising music compiled by well-known radio DJ and Lowrider ‘Xavier the X-Man’ and much more.
San Diegans Carlos and David C. de Baca have been involved in the Southern California car culture for more than 25 years. They have developed many local automotive-oriented shows, including the “Bajitos y Suavecitos” Lowrider exhibition featured at the San Diego Automotive Museum in Balboa Park. The exhibit is touted by the museum as the most successful in terms of the number of visitors and admissions. Based on the success of the show, Carlos was recruited by that museum’s Board of Directors where he is currently an active board member. David has been featured and interviewed on many local and national television shows to discuss Lowrider history, style and culture.
This exhibition is made possible by the generous support from Rudy and Elizabeth Van Hunnick, and David and Jan Arnold.
via Magu website:
Toward the end of (our father) Magu’s life, his artistic practice focused almost exclusively around his carrito-themed work. Perhaps it was because doing so took him back to simpler days of the 40s and 50s when his youthful eyes were imprinted by those vehicular icons with their voluptuous curves and shiny chrome accents. Or maybe it was because our present day culture is still so invested in the horseless carriage as an expression of personal identity and social status and he saw it as an opportunity to connect with people.
He called these works of art ‘cultural vehicles’ (pun intended!), as they carried with them embedded statements about culture. Whether his work bonked you on the head with a wittingly obvious notion or took you down the path of a nuanced and obscure reference, there is one thing we can be sure of: he loved to start a conversation and instigate debate. He always encouraged us, through his work, to take a deeper look at the world around us and explore the meaning we give it.
So, we hope you will join us as we continue to honor and celebrate his legacy by exhibiting a selection of his most car-centric artwork. Please see below for more details on the exhibit and feel free to pass along.
CAM:
For more information on events related with this exhibition visit: OMA.org
Source: magulandia.com
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MIL GRACIAS!!
CAM:
I would like to Thank L.A. Xicano Facebook, UCLA Chicano Studies Resource Center Facebook pages and UCLA CSRC Newsletter for posting the story on my visit to Dora De Larios studio. It is a great feeling when an institution like UCLA CSRC aknowledges my writings.
I would also like to thank them for making 2011 a great year for Chicano and Mexican-American art in Southern California.
I especially would like to give a very special Thank you to Dora De Larios for her support in fowarding my writings to UCLA CSRC and making this happen.
Banner for “Art Along The Hyphen” The Mexican-American Generation featuring image of Dora De larios artwork.
LINKS:
L.A. Xicano FB
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CHAZ BOJORQUEZ - ‘L.A. HANDSTYLES’
April 28 - May 5
Carbon Festival in conjunction with the National Gallery of Victoria presents Chaz Bojorquez ‘LA Handstyles’. The show will feature a new body of work from the legendary Godfather of Cholo graffiti. Bojorquez has been practising typographic graffiti since the late 60’s, fusing the gang scripts of Mexican-American’s living in LA with the timeless art of Eastern calligraphy he creates works that are instantly recognisable.
A true pioneer, his influence on popular culture can not be understated. Bojorquez’s letter forms and their legacies can be found everywhere from skate culture, graffiti, contemporary design, as well as across the bodies of thousands of men in prison who’ve inked his works on their skin permanently as protective charms.
Bojorquez’s work has been collected by many major institutions the world over, most recently he has contributed work to the Smithsonian, and was a featured artist in LA’s Museum of Contemporary Art’s seminal street art exhibition ‘Art in the Streets’. This is the artist’s first visit to Australia, and Carbon is proud to be a collaborator in this groundbreaking event.
Source: webringjustice.wordpress.com
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Dignidad Rebelde - VIVA LA MUJER
17.5 x 23 inches 2 - Color, Handprinted Screenprint, Mohawk Birch Archival Paper, Printed in Oakland, 2011 Limited Edition 60
via: Jesus Barraza (Dignidad Rebelde)
This collaboration mixes Melanie’s drawing of a Xicana with a pattern I pieced together from a Toltec stone stamp created about 3,000 years ago. This mix of ancient and new brings together printmakers across generations, the stamp pattern used was one of many that were created to print on fabric and paper.
CAM:
Chicanos and Xicanas, here is Chicano masterpiece #11 of my Top 100 Chicano Masterpieces for my virtual Chicano Art Museum. (Say that 5 times fast)
I chose this piece due to its very reminiscent feel of the Chicano Art Movement posters of the 70’s, its very stong image celebrating not just the “Xicana” but all women. With a dipiction of a pretty eyed “Chingona” the bold text and beautiful Toltec pattern, this 2-color art Screen print is visually ravishing and powerful.
This artwork would be a great partner piece to hang next to my #2 pick for my virtual Chicano Art Museum, not just visually but also historiclly.
The Dignidad Rebelde collective piece is also my first pick from the “New wave” of Xicano artist and not the last. Jesus and Melanie are truly following the blue print of the Chicano Art Movement using their talents to help causes they believe in.
There is also a different color variation of this print that was turned into a exhibition poster. (HERE).
Source: dignidadrebelde.com
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